FMC/Rheinmetall M-113G1 BeobPzArt
Notes: The
M-113G1 AOPV (in German, the M-113G1 Beobachtungspanzer) sort of takes a middle
road between a bunch of artillery spotters with hand-held equipment and a fully
specialized M-113-based FISTV such as the American M-971.
The M-113G1 AOPV has a mission equipment set on an extendible mast that
projects the sights and equipment above the vehicle, but only just enough to
give the equipment and sights free play.
The mast and the equipment set is raised through the standard M-113-type
rear hatch. The equipment pod has a
thermal imager, image intensifier, a laser rangefinder, and a laser designator.
The standard commander’s cupola is retained and has a pintle mount,
though normally for a smaller machinegun than is normally fitted to an M-113.
The fourth crewmember has a small computer that is good for producing
fire solutions, but only one at a time; it is not a particularly high-powered
computer. The M-113G1 AOPV has one
long-range data-capable radio, one other long-range radio, and one short-range
radio. Much of the internal and
external upgrades are similar to the US M-577A1.
As an M-113
variant (specifically, an M-113A1 variant), the M-113G1 AOPV has many things in
common with an M-113A1. The driver
is on the front left, and steers and brakes using tillers. He has three vision
blocks to his front; the center one can be replaced with a night vision block.
The M-113G1 has a
hydraulic ramp at the rear with another hatch set into it on the left side.
The ramp can be quickly opened by simply dropping it, or lowered more
slowly by using engine power to help control the speed at which the ramp lowers.
There is a large, rear-opening hatch on the rear deck; the equipment mast
and pod is raised through this. On
the left front; somewhat to the rear of the driver’s position, is the
commander’s cupola; he has no night vision gear, but has all-around vision
blocks and the cupola manually turns. The handle to operate the ramp it to the
rear of the driver, and it is the driver that is responsible for opening and
closing the ramp under most circumstances.
The M-113G1 uses the engine of the M-113A2, which is a General Motors
6V53T turbocharged diesel developing 212 horsepower and has an improved cooling
system. The M-113G1 also has smoke
grenade launchers – a cluster of four on each fender, like that of the M-113A2,
but of German make.
The M-113G1 AOPV
is later upgraded to the M-113G3 AOPV, which had the same mechanical,
automotive, and fuel tank upgrades of the M-113G3G.
This includes uses the Mercedes-Benz MTU 6V183 TC 22 turbocharged diesel
engine with a fully-automatic ZF LSG 1000 transmission.
The engine develops 335 horsepower, and the driver has standard controls
and can use alternate controls to make a pivot steer.
The M-113G3 AOPV has vastly-upgraded fire control and calculation
computers, able to control up to two batteries, survey sites (and give an
emergency, lower-accuracy survey by use of a hand-held laser rangefinder), and
feed through radio precise coordinates to the guns, even if he cannot see them;
he can also relay commands like traversing fire, elevating or depressing fire,
or bracketing. The elevating pod
has FLIR instead of thermal imaging, independently-moving double-range image
intensification, and a longer-range laser rangefinder and laser designator (6000
meters). The M-113G3 is equipped with a mapping computer. The fuel tanks are
moved to the rear, on either side of the ramp on the upper hull (like the
M-113A3 in use by the US).
Twilight 2000
Notes: About 10% of M-113 AOPVs are M-113G3 AOPVs.
However, half of the M-113G1s are equipped with the computers, radios,
and elevating pod of the M-113G3 AOPV instead of their standard equipment, and
have had their fuel tanks moved to the rear. They do not, however, have the GPS
and mapping computer; they do retain their inertial navigation hardware.
About 25% of these partially-upgraded are armed with M-2HBs instead of
MG-3s at the commander’s positions.
(One picture featured in Der Spiegel
in January of 1997 showed an upgraded M-113G1 AOPV armed with an MG-3/HK GMG in
a double mount at the commander’s position, and cases of machinegun and 40mm
ammunition hung outside of the vehicle.)
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M-113G1 AOPV |
$445,359 |
D, A |
930 kg |
11.14 tons |
4 |
9 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensifier (Pod), Thermal Imaging (Pod) |
Shielded |
M-113G3 AOPV |
$428,441 |
D, A |
835 kg |
11.33 tons |
4 |
10 |
Passive IR (D), Advanced Image Intensifier (Pod), FLIR (Pod) |
Shielded |
M-113G1 AOPV (T2K Type 1) |
$419,264 |
D, A |
820 kg |
11.36 tons |
4 |
10 |
Passive IR (D), Advanced Image Intensifier (Pod), FLIR (Pod) |
Shielded |
M113G1 AOPV (T2K Type 2) |
$324,938 |
D, A |
750 kg |
11.5 tons |
4 |
10 |
Passive IR (D), Advanced Image Intensifier (Pod), FLIR (Pod) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor* |
M-113G1 AOPV |
150/105 |
38/26/3 |
360 |
62 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF3 TS3
TR3 HF6
HS4 HR4 |
M-113G3 AOPV |
175/122 |
44/31/3 |
360 |
78 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF3 TS3
TR3 HF6
HS4 HR4 |
M-113G1 AOPV (T2K Type 1) |
147/103 |
37/26/3 |
360 |
63 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF3 TS3
TR3 HF6
HS4 HR4 |
M-113G1 AOPV (T2K Type 2) |
145/102 |
36/26/3 |
360 |
64 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF3 TS3
TR3 HF6
HS4 HR4 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M-113G1/M-113G3 AOPV |
None |
None |
MG-3 (C) |
2000x7.62mm |
M-113G1 AOPV (T2K Type 1) |
None |
None |
MG-3 (C) |
4000x7.62mm |
M-113G1 AOPV (T2K Type 1) |
None |
None |
M-2HB (C) |
3000x.50 BMG |
*The mast’s armor is an abstraction based on it’s true mass and the difficulty
for an enemy to hit such a small target.
In addition, hits on the mast which result in a crewmember being hit are
instead treated as misses.
Rheinmetall Leopard AOPV
Notes: This is a
vehicle where I have not been able to determine whether or not it ever entered
service; I have given stats here on this page as if it did enter service.
Some 333 conversions were scheduled to take place by 1995, but they may
have fallen victim to the budget axe.
The Leopard AOPV, last I heard, was to replace Jagdpanzer AOPV and most
M-113G AOPV vehicles.
The Leopard AOPV
(in German, the Leopard Beobachtungspanzer) is a FIST version based on the
Leopard 1A5 tank. The result is a
highly-survivable FIST platform.
Broadly, the Leopard AOPV is similar to the Leopard 1A5, to the inclusion of a
dummy cannon on the turret to hide the fact that it is a higher-priority-target
FIST vehicle rather than an average tank.
The turret is heavily modified; the internal main gun components are not
installed, and the turret carries part of the extra radio gear, part of the
mission-specific computers, and enhanced day and night vision gear.
The turret also has an advanced laser rangefinder with a range of 15
kilometers, and a laser designator with a range of 10 kilometers.
The turret also has an advanced image intensifier for day and night use
with a range of 15 kilometers during the day and 8 kilometers during the night,
and an advanced FLIR. The commander
also has a second laser rangefinder and image intensifier (of normal capability)
at his position, and he can access all vision devices on his vehicle.
The Leopard AOPV has two data-capable long-range radios, a medium-range
radio, and a short-range radio. A
5kW APU is also carried. The Leopard AOPV has the maps and equipment to do
manual fire solutions if necessary, but the Leopard AOPV is designed to
primarily do its calculations on a special computer built and programmed for
that purpose, and similar to that on the later versions of Jagdpanzer AOPV. The
Leopard AOPV was at last check equipped with in inertial navigation; I would
imagine that GPS would equip them now; with GPS, add $10000.
The crew is protected by an NBC Overpressure system and an automatic fire
detection and suppression system for the turret, driver’s compartment, engine,
and fuel tanks.
Like the Leopard
1, the Leopard AOPV has
a conventional crew
layout, with the driver to the front left side, the commander on the right of
the turret below and to the right of him, and the loader’s hatch on the left
side of the turret. The loader and
gunner actually are part of the FIST, and help find targets, designate targets,
and computer fire solutions. The
only weapon remaining in the turret is the former coaxial machinegun, which does
not have any ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, or stabilization.
The ammunition ready bin to the right of the driver houses equipment on
the Leopard AOPV. The driver has three vision blocks allowing vision to the
front and partially to each side.
The Leopard AOPV has a rare feature among military vehicles – the commander has
auxiliary driving controls, and can drive the Leopard 1 from his cupola, if in a
somewhat awkward fashion. He also
has auxiliary controls for the main gun.
The commander’s cupola has seven vision blocks giving him a 360-degree
view, and he has a 1x/6x/20x periscope on the turret roof itself that can be
rotated independently of the cupola and allows day/night vision.
The commander’s hatch can be fully open, fully closed, or locked into a
position that allows the commander to peek out at his surroundings, but is only
open a little. The periscope has an
aiming reticule for use when firing his machinegun from under armor.
(In the latter case, an image of the gunner’s aiming reticule is
projected onto the periscope.)
The turret of
the Leopard 1 is all-welded. The Leopard 1 has a fully automatic transmission.
The engine is a Daimler-Benz DB-838 830-horsepower supercharged diesel which can
also run on JP8 jet fuel. The
engine and transmission is combined into one powerpack that can be removed as a
unit. The suspension is optimized
for some of the roughest terrain around. The tracks are US-designed, but can be
replaced with German-designed anti-skid tracks.
In either case, the tracks have rubber track pads.
Twilight 2000
Notes: 33 of these conversions had been accomplished before the start of the
war, to replace M-113 based observation vehicles.
Merc 2000 Notes:
These conversions were never done.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$406,618 |
D, G, A |
700 kg |
38.9 tons |
4 |
21 |
Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (C), Advanced Image
Intensification (Turret), 2nd Generation FLIR (Turret) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
145/102 |
37/29 |
985 |
413 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF44Sp
TS19Sp TR13
HF49Sp HS13Sp HR8 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
None |
None |
MG-3, MG-3 (C) |
5500x7.62mm |
Rheinmetall Wiesel 2 FDC
Notes: Wiesel 2
FDC is similar to the Wiesel Battalion Command Post Vehicle, but internally it
is modified specifically to serve its role within units made up of Wiesel 2
120mm mortar units. These
modifications include a GPS set with an attached mapping computer, a surveying
set to set positions for the guns of the unit, a small laser rangefinder on a
small pod atop the vehicle, used primarily if the FDC is unable to survey firing
positions first. The FDC has a
small but powerful computer which ties together all functions, as well as being
able to generate firing solutions for eight guns and transmit them wirelessly to
the gun vehicles. (The Wiesel 2 FDC
can also be used with other types of guns, but has problems with generating fire
coordinates outside the maximum range of the Wiesel 2 120mm’s mortar.)
The vehicle also has a secondary computer can generate fire solutions for
four additional guns or take over the GPS/mapping functions, surveying features,
and laser rangefinder functions so that the main computer can generate the four
extra solutions. The FDC can also
communicate with and coordinate with up to four other FDC vehicles, and these do
not need to be of the Wiesel 2 type; this allows coordination between a wide
variety of indirect fire vehicles, howitzers, and mortar units.
To communicate fire solutions and other data and communicate them to
other FDCs, as well as to transmit this information to other units (including
mapping coordinates), the Wiesel 2 FDC has a pair of long-range radios which are
data-capable, plus a pair of short-range radios for more mundane communications
between units. The Wiesel 2 FDC can likewise receive fire solutions from other
FDCs or mortar ballistic computers; 20 fire solutions from FDCs/mortar units can
be received and stored, as well as 10 fire solutions or requests from other
units, including FIST units.
(Old-style maps, protractors, pens, and fire solution tables and circles are
carried just in case.)
Note that the
Wiesel 2 FDC is not a FIST or reconnaissance vehicle and does not have the
equipment to be one.
The Wiesel 2 FDC
is essentially a standard Wiesel 2 with only slightly raised sides (about
100mm); these raised sides allow for the housing of equipment and to allow the
crew to move about easier.
Automotively, the Wiesel 2 FDC is the same as other Wiesel 2s, having a
1.9-liter Volkswagen 109-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine and a ZF fully
automatic transmission. Despite
what seems to be inadequate power for an armored tracked vehicle, the low weight
makes the Wiesel 2 FDC, like other Wiesel 2s, fast and nimble. The driver’s
controls are standard, with a steering wheel, and a pedal for the gas and brake.
The driver can also use auxiliary controls to perform pivot steering.
The driver is in the front left, just behind the glacis plate; the
commander has a ring mount on the right.
The engine and transmission are to the right of the driver and in front
of the commander; on the glacis is a hatch which gives access to oil,
transmission fluid, and radiator fill points, as well as the engine air filter.
Since the crew may have to operate in a chemical environment, and the crew also
needs freedom of movement, the Wiesel 2 FDC is equipped with an NBC overpressure
system. (The Wiesel 2 does not have
a backup NBC scrubber system for the crew’s protective masks, as the hoses would
actually get in the way of the small confines of the vehicle.)
In addition, the MG-3 of the Wiesel 2 FDC can be aimed and fired (though
not reloaded) from inside the vehicle.
The commander also has a small degree of night vision capability through
his front vision block.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Like the Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier, the Wiesel 2 FDC was also a rare
vehicle in the Twilight 2000 timeline; perhaps slightly more than one Wiesel 2
FDC present for every Wiesel 2 Mortar Carrier.
However, a Twilight 2000 FDC vehicle uses primarily inertial navigation
integrated with its mapping computer.
The computer are also take up more space, and interior space for the crew
is more cramped.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Wiesel 2 FDC (Current) |
$169,947 |
D, A |
200 kg |
4.67 tons |
4 |
7 |
Passive IR (D), Passive IR (C) |
Shielded |
Wiesel 2 FDC (T2K) |
$132,697 |
D, A |
180 kg |
4.69 tons |
4 |
7 |
Passive IR (D), Passive IR (C) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Wiesel 2 FDC (Current) |
160/112 |
40/28/3 |
80 |
17 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF4
HS2 HR2 |
Wiesel 2 FDC (T2K) |
159/111 |
40/28/3 |
80 |
17 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF4
HS2 HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Wiesel 2 FDC |
None |
None |
MG-3 (C) |
2000x7.62mm |
Thyssen Henchel Jagdpanzer AOPV
Notes:
The Jagdpanzer Rakete was an early Cold War tank destroyer that persisted
into service into the mid-1980s.
(It is covered in German Self-Propelled Guns.) Though 333 Jagdpanzer Raketes
were later converted into Jaguar 2 ATGM carriers, 165 were converted into FISTVs
called Jagdpanzer AOPV (Artillery Observation Post Vehicle) or Jagdpanzer
Beobachtungspazer. I have not been
able to discover whether these vehicles are still in service, or when they
served if they are no longer in service.
Germany appears to be the only country that used them.
The hull of the
Jagdpanzer AOPV (called in German the Jagdpanzer Beobachtungspanzer) is broadly
similar to the Jagdpanzer Kanone (minus the gun, of course). The driver is on
the front left side, with an overhead hatch that opens to the right and three
forward vision blocks. One of these
blocks can be removed and replaced with a night vision block.
The commander has a cupola near the center right of the vehicle, with
all-around vision blocks; a pintle mount for a weapon is mounted.
The commander also has a periscope which can be rotated through 270
degrees, and has magnifications of 1x, 6x, and 20x; this is mounted in front of
the cupola. The hatch for the
loader remains (including its all-around vision blocks), but the gunner’s and
loader’s positions themselves have been deleted and replaced with
mission-specific equipment. The
Jagdpanzer Kanone’s coaxial machinegun has also been deleted. The main gun and
all its associated equipment is removed, and the opening for the gun and mantlet
plated over. The crew is protected
with an NBC overpressure system. On
each front corner of the roof is a quadruple cluster of smoke grenade launchers.
The Jagdpanzer
AOPV is powered by the original Daimler Benz MB-837 diesel developing 500
horsepower, coupled to a manual transmission.
The driver has a steering yoke and appropriate foot pedals.
Behind the driver is the mission compartment, which houses two
crewmembers. The crewmembers man
radios, including two data-capable long-range radios, a medium-range radio, and
a short-range radio. The Jagdpanzer
AOPV has a ruggedized computer appropriate to its tasks of assisting the crew in
producing fire solutions, navigating, and coordinating supporting fires.
The radios and computer can interface with artillery/mortar/MRL fire
control computers with ground-mounted units as well as transmit coordinates to
higher headquarters. On the deck next to the commander’s cupola is an armored
hatch which automatically opens upon command; this hatch protects an elevating
pod containing sensors, including telescopic sights, an image intensifier, a
thermal imager, a laser rangefinder, and a laser designator. The sensors in the
pod are accessible by the crew (except for the driver) and can be interfaced
with the computer. Storage is provided for maps, especially in early models, as
well as codebooks. The crew uses and maps and manual equipment to plot
supporting fire in extremis.
Originally, the
Jagdpanzer AOPV was equipped with a gyrocompass for navigation, which was later
upgraded to inertial navigation.
Rumors state that the inertial navigation was to be supplemented with GPS, but I
have not been able to discover whether or not this upgrade was ever made.
(I have included stats for all three versions below.) Computers were also
supposed to be upgraded at the same time as the installation of GPS, and sensors
were supposed to be upgraded, but I have not been able to confirm this either,
though I included it in the stats below.
Twilight 2000
Notes: About 80 of these conversions had been completed before the Twilight War.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Jagdpanzer AOPV (w/Gyrocompass) |
$419,441 |
D, G, AvG, A |
500 kg |
27.5 tons |
4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensifier (Pod), Thermal Imaging (Pod) |
Shielded |
Jagdpanzer AOPV (w/Inertial Navigation) |
$428,441 |
D, G, AvG, A |
500 kg |
27.5 tons |
4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensifier (Pod), Thermal Imaging (Pod) |
Shielded |
Jadgpanzer AOPV (w/GPS & Upgrades) |
$446,133 |
D, G, AvG, A |
500 kg |
27.5 tons |
4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensifier (Pod), FLIR (Pod) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Jagdpanzer AOPV |
129/91 |
30/21 |
470 |
270 |
Stnd |
T6 |
HF14 HS7
HR5 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Jagdpanzer AOPV |
None |
None |
MG-3 (C) |
4000x7.62mm |